Camera leveling and shutter controlling apparatus



S0- 202 @wasR'l-:FERENCE ExAMl/NEB i 0 v $9. J. 1 4 2, nuunnnnanouonnnuuaunnucm all 27 58 22 E I 3," 'f' 9V f V2/ v lll 'll l l a l 7; .l am# 5f j 'M l ,s Yr/Crm Jan- 9 1934- A.1'. KENNEDY' 1,942,604 CAMERA LEVELING' AND SHUTTER CONTROLLINGPPRATUS i Filed Aug. 24, l1932 s sheets-sheet 1 A. T. KENNEDY- GAMERA LEVELING AND SHUTTER CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMM ATTORNEY www 2 0 3 amas REFERENCE Jan. 9, 1.934. Afr, KENNEDY 1,942,604

CAMERA LEVELING AND SHUTTER CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24. 1932 :s sheets-sheet' 3 WZl .121.

INVENTOR @JLM 7T v BY ATTORNEY i f Patented iJari. 9,

' CAMERA mvsnmc AND snu'r'rsa coN- 'raoLuONG ArPAaA'rUs A .Arum T. Kennedy, Duluth, Minn.

Application August 24, 1932.. Serial No. 630,204

'1 claims. (cuss-'16) My invention relates to leveling and shutter controlling apparatus and has for its object the provision of means for leveling a photographic camera and controlling the shutter thereof, and

6 for such other purposes as it may be adapted to serve. Heretofore, the irregular tilting, yawing,

or dipping of an aeroplane in flight has made it exceedingly difficult to level a camera carried thereby for the purpose of taking a series of 10 overlapping pictures of the ground at the same,

or approximately the same angle and at approximately regular intervals of time, so that they may be conveniently trimmed and pasted together in a strip showing a substantially con-` tinuous view. My invention is designed to reduce or obviate such difliculty, and consists of -the constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation 'of the superstructure of my invention. Fig. 2 is a-top plan view of said superstructure. Fig. 3 is a rear` end elevation of said superstructure. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the basic structure forming part of said invention.` Fig. 5-

v is a top plan view of a night card forming part -of 'said invention. Fig. 6 is a central vertical longitudinal section of an upwardly directed cell tube embodied in said invention.. Fig.j\7 is a central 'transverse section through said tube.

Fig. 8 is a central vertical transverse section through a mirror, or artificial horizon basinand guide rails therefor. Fig. 9 is a central transverse section through a photo-electric'cell, as,

forv example, the cell 41. Fis. 10 is a horizontal section of said basestructure on theline 1-1 of Fig. 4. Fis. 1l is a wiring diagram. Fig. 12

is a vcentral longitudinal section through a second or downwardly directed cell tube. Fig. 13

is a wiring diagram including the cell in said second tube. f

In the drawings, 1 is a relatively stationary frame or bracket of any suitable form or structure, preferably adaptedto be secured to an aeroplane, or :dirigible balloon, or other unstable 45 support. Within, or upon said frame are mounted concentric ,gimbal rings 2 and 3, respectively,

. and. secured to and dependingfrom the interior one of said rings is a-photographic camera 4, of any suitable construction. Mounted upon said ring 3 is a foot plate 5, upon which is erected a preferably hollow post 6, upon 'the upper end of which post is mounted a loose sleeve '1, carrying 'a head plate 8. Secured to said sleeve is a gear 9, adapted to engagea reciprocatable rack bar l0, which forms, or is attached to the armatures of oppositely disposed solenoids 11 and 12, which are supported in any suitable manner as by standards 11 and 12, respectively, erect-- ed upon said foot plate. Mounted loosely upon said sleeve is a collar 13, to which are pivotally connected the converging endsof a plurality of Y radially disposed armatures as preferably 14, 15'),

'16* and 17 for corresponding radially disposed solenoids 14, 15, 16 and 1'1, respectively, which are pivotally secured to respectively corresponding anchorages or posts erected on said frame or bracket, as to the posts 14". 15", 16h and 17", respectively.

Upon the upper end of said collar, is mounted a contact plate 18, embodying preferably four equal radial contact segments insulated from each other and from said collar.

-Suspended in any suitable manner or by any suitable means from said head plate and insulated therefrom are four contact shoes or wheels, as 19, adapted to bear upon said contact segments respectively.

.Upon said head plate is mounted a clock work mechanism 20 of any suitable structure.- provided with gears' 20|, 2o, for driving a. night ma so 2l, of any suitable material or structure, at a regular predetermined speed. Said clock mechanismis also provided with a gear 22 adapted to drive a gear 23 splined on the shaft 24 and held against a collar 24` by a spring 24b positioned be- 85 tween said gear and the collar 24. B aid gear 23 is adaptedy to turn the shaft 24 of a differential, or variablepitch worm 25 splined on said shaft.- The thread on said worm is preferably of the knife-edge type .and the forward half is 90 pitched in a forward-driving direction and the rearward half is pitched in a reverse driving die rection. 4Said rearward half of said thread is preferably spaced from said forward half a short distance. Each half. of the thread is of variable 06 pitch and their slowest driving ends are adiacent to eachother.

Journalled on the hub of said worm is a ticpending lever 26. adapted to engage-one, or another of the guide paths 21 in said card, whereby 100 said lever is forced to movesaid worm 25 in its tatlrit of travel longitudinally of its supporting a Y v Said card is designed to move in the direction of said clock mechanism. The Roman numerals -on said' card indicate hours.. The apertures adjacent the margins of said card are for the engagement of the gears 20' and 20".

Said worm 25 engages a worm wheel or gear ZTkeyed to a drive `shaft 28 whereon isleyed 4110 a set of differential gears as 28e, 28", 28, of any suitable number and structure adapted to be operatively coupled by an intermediate or idler gear 29 with transversely registering gears as 30, 31, and 32, respectively, which are keyed -to a 'worm 33 extending parallel to said drive shaft 28.

Erected upon said head plate are also posts of any suitable structure 84 and 35 upon which are journalled shafts 37 and 38, respectively. upon whichshaftsareiixeddrivinggearsaaand4mre-- spectively, and cell tubes 4i and 42, respectively. Within said tube 42, is a photo-electric or lenium cell box 43 preferably positioned near he rear endof the tube, centrally thereof and open toward the rear, which box contains a chamber or chambers for one or more.' preferably four, photo-electric cells as 44, 45, 48 and .4'1, mounted, respectively, in frames or holders of any suitable construction, and material, preferably of transparent glass. Said cells are inserted in corresponding electric circuits, as hereinafter more particularly described.

Forward of said cell box and preferably mounted thereon is a parabolic mirror, as 48, exposed to any beams of light which may enter the tube through a window yor object lens 49 centrally positioned in the front wall of said tube. Within said tube, preferably near the front thereof, is a parabolic mirror 50 faced toward the rear and adapted to receive the renected beams of light from said mirror 48. Within said tube, at or near the rear end thereof is 5l faced ront ofsaid photo-e resistance thefrd'tlere close the circuit f the cell aifected. l mr Each of said cells is embodied in a different lectric circuit comprising any suitable source of electricity, as the battery 52, one or another of said solenoids 14, 15, 16, or 17, respectively, and one or the other of said solenoids 11 or 12. Each of said circuits may also embody any suitable resistance as 53, to compensate for any effect of diffused light on said photo-electric cells, or such resistance may be omitted.

The circuit wires to and from said cells, respectively, preferably lead in and out of said tube 42 through the bore of a hollow post 42e mounted in said tube.

Thus, when intense light, as of a direct aunbeam lens, it strikes the mirror 48 and is reflected forward to some part of the mirror 50 and thence back to some part of the mirror 51 and thence forward to one or another of said cells, closing the circuit in which said-lighted cell is included. 'I'he solenoids embodied in said circuit are thereupon energized and operate to rotate and tilt the invention until the light beani becomes ce gral, at which e e nventiiffc ed camera will be substantially level and the operative light beam will be neutral to all of said cells.

One of said tubes 41 or 42 is normally pointed above the natural horizon and directly at the sun, and the other of said tubes is normally pointed below the natural horizon and at the center of an artificial horizon, as will be hereinafter explained. Preferably, said tube 42 is pointed at the sun.

Within said tube 41 is a single photo-electric cell, 41. of any suitable structure or material preferably concentric with the longitudinal axis of said tube and preferably near the rear end )enters the tube at any angle through the object thereof. Baidcellisexpoaedtoanydirectbeamof light admitted by a window or lense 41|' in the front wall of said tube. Said oeil 4il is preferably supported by a cell box 41 ofany suitable structure positioned on the end of a hollow post 41l 2E which extends through the rear wall of said tube 41. Bald cell 41 is embodied in a separate electric circuit comprising said source of electricity, said cell 41, an electromagnet or solenoid 54, a normally closed switch 55, and a normally open switch 58. Baid switch 56 may comprise a con- -tactor of any suitable structure as a rotary segment 57 which may be driven at any desired speed by any suitable clock type mechanism 58 whereby said switch will be closed and opened intermittently at any desired intervals.

An' amature 59 of any sultablestructure is provided for said magnet or solenoid 54 and is attached to the trigger 60 of a camera shutter of any suitable structure, whereby the armature 59 ,is adapted in operation to actuate said trigger and shutter to uncover the lens 61 of said camera.

A spring 82 is attached at one end to said trigger to retract the same and thus close said switch 55 after the armature 59 has been released by its 100 solenoid coil. The opposite end of said spring may be attached to any suitable relatively stationary anchorage 82. When said trigger is operatedbysaidarmature,itisalsoadaptedtoopen said normally closed switch 55, thus opening the 105 circuit of said solenoid 54 and causing it to release its armature. In the meantime the mechanism 58 will drive the contactar segment 57 out of circuit closing contact with the switch 56, thus temporarily opening the circuit at that point.

The worm 33 is adapted to engage said gear 39. Said gear 39 is preferably double faced and is adapted to engage a transmission idler 63 positioned between the gears 39 and 40, which idler also engages said gear 40 and is adapted to turn 11il said gear 40 in the opposite direction to the rotation of the gear 39.

The worm 33 is also adapted to engage a finger 84, or mechanical equivalent, extending from an artificial horizon basin 65, which is preferably 12D filled with mercury, and is adapted to slide on guide rails 88 and 86e. The basin is preferably partly covered by an annular dished flange to prevent said mercury from spilling if the device is tilted or even overturned. l??

Said mercury forms an artificial horizon at the center of which said tube 41 is pointed, and when sunlight is reflected from said artiiicial horizon into said tube 41 and focused upon said cell 41. it will weaken the resistance or increase the conductivity of said cell 41'l and permit the flow of adequate electric current therethro h to operate said solenoid 54, provided the switc es 55 and 56 are both closed at the time. It should be observed, however. that because of vibration,- or of the tipping or dipping of the aeroplane, the mercury will probably be much of the time in such turbulent condition that it will. only intermit-f tently reflect a ray at the right angle to suiiiciently affect the cell 41. Thus the solenoid 54 .',4 will not be energized too frequently, or for an excessiveperiod at any time.

The worm 33 is of variable pitch, the thread becoming gradually faster from a point preferably adjacent to the idler 83 to the forward end of said worm as at 33e, whereby said artificial horizonv may be moved along its path at a gradually slowing pace rearwardly fromthe front end of said worm between sunrise and noon and at a gradually increasing speed toward the front of 15 tion to the spring 24h, and by then rotating said 'swim with reference to the place and time that the night will ybe commenced, and the subsequent' apparent course of the sun during the proposed night. making due allowance for the elevation, course and speed of the plane, and plats said course on the night card by forming paths in said card. H e then adjusts said worm '25 to the proper, position for engagement with the gear 27; position depending on the result of said calculations. Said adjustment may be effected by temporarily disengaging said gear 23 from the gear 22 by pushing said gear 23 along its shaft in opposigear 23 manually the required distancein one direction or the other. 'Ihe operator may then -als disengage the idler 29 from the adjacent transmission gears, and spin the worm 33 in one direction or the other until the artincial horizon is at the proper point in its path at which time the tube 42 .will be elevated at the proper angle to point to the sun, and the tube 41 will point to the artincial horizon. The operator then re-engages the idler 29 with one or another pair of the adjacent l transmission gears; places the'night card on its path and engages it with said gears 20* and 20, and rotates and levels the invention so that the tube 42`will-point at the sun. The invention will then be in operative position and should operate automatically during the night, except that the operator during night will change the gear between the shaft 28-and the worm 33-fro`m high to intermediate and lto low during the morning and from low to intermediate and to high in the afternoon, and when the lever 26 has reached the lower end of any of the guide paths in said night card, it will be lifted out by the operator and will be set in the upper end of the next following path. A stationary bar 67 is positioned against the forward side of the lever 26 to prevent the forwardly moving card 21 from dragging the free end of the lever forwardly. Guide rails 68, 68n are preferably provided for said card.. On said card I also preferably exhibit memoranda (not shown) of the place, dateylatitude and longitude of the 'night and such other matter as may be desired for record.

If desired, a vernier (not shown) scale may be marked on one or the. other of said gears 39 or 40, or a separate vernier may be provided for the convenience of the operator. in determining the angles of the cell tubes in the operation of adjusting the invention for a night. l

A horizontal angle scale (not shown) of any suitable construction is also preferably marked or mounted on said invention in any suitable manner and at any convenient location.

Spirit level glasses, (not shown) may, if desired, be mounted at any suitable place or places on said invention to facilitate temporary leveling, of the same by the operator during the adjustment of the invention before night, or at any other'time if necessary.

It is obvious that my invention may be modified in various particulars within the spirit and scope a head plate on said sleeve; a gearl on said sleeve and adapted to turn the same; a rack engaging said gear; oppositely disposed solenoids supported on s aid foot plate for reciprocating said rack; a collar loosely mounted on said sleeve; a group 'of radially disposed solenoid coils and a group of 4 armatures therefor, one of said groups being connected' to said collar and the other of said groups being connected to posts erected on said frame;l an, upwardly-inclined tube pivotally mounted on said head plate, said tube having a window in its upper end; a plurality of electric circuits, each including a source of electricity. a different one of a plurality of photo-electric cells positioned in said tube and one of said coils; mirrors in said tube for renecting to said cells at various times, respectively, light entering said tube through said window; a downwardly inclined tube'pivotally mounted on said head plate, said tube having a window in its lower end; a photoelectric cell in the downwardly inclined tube adapted to receive light entering said tube through said Window; a lens shutter and shutter triggerpfor saidcamera: a normally open electric circuit comprising a source of electricity, the cell in said downwardly turned tube, a solenoid coil, a normally closed switch adaptedto be openedby said solenoid, and a normally open switch; an armature for said coil, one endof said armature being connected to said trigger.; a movable contactor for said normally open switch: a clock type mechanism for operating said contactar to close and open said normally open switch at regular predetermined intervals; a spring attached 110 parallel thereto and extending longitudinally thereofin a plane perpendicular to the longitudin al axis of said downwardly directed tube; a prime mover mounted on said head plate; transmission means adapted to be driven by saidV prime mover and to alter the angle of elevation and'oi' depression of said tubes, respectively, and to re'- ciprocate said artincial horizon; and means actuated by said `prime mover for gradually decreasing the speed of a portion of said transmission mechanism for a predetermined period and for gradually increasing the speed of said portion 125 for asucceeding predetermined period, whereby the angles of elevation and depression of said tubes, respectively, are changed atpredetermined variable speeds and whereby said artificial horizon is kept in line with the window and cell in 133 said downwardly inclined tube.

2. The combination with a relatively stationary frame having gimbal rings mounted thereon, of a foot plate mounted on the interior one of said plates a post erected on said plate; a rotatable sleeve mounted on said post; `a head plate mounted on said sleeve; a gear on said sleeve and adapted to rotate the same; a reciprocable' rack engaging said gear; oppositely disposed solenoids mounted on said foot plate and adapted to reciprocate said rack; a collar loosely mounted on said sleeve; a group of radially disposed solenoid coils and a group of armatures therefor, one of said groups being connected to said Ycollar and the other of said groups being connected with posts erected on said frame; an upwardly inclined tube pivotally mounted on said head plate, said tube having a window in its front end; a plurality of photo-electricv cells within said tube; mirrors within said tube for renecting to said 1 cells at various times, respectively, light entering said tube through said window; a prime mover mounted on said head plate; transmission means adapted to be driven by said prime mover and to change the angle of elevation of said tube; means actuated by said prime mover and adapted to gradually reduce the speed of said transmission means for a` predetermined period and to successively increase the speed of said transmission means for another predetermined period; and a plurality of electric circuits.. each of said circuits comprising a source of electricity, one of said cells, respectively, one of said group of coils. respectively, and one of said oppositely disposed solenoids which is also included in one onLv of the others of said circuits.

3. The combination with a relatively stationary trame having gimbal rings mounted thereon, of a foot plate mounted upon the interior one of said rings; a post erected upon said foot plate; a sleevemounted upon said post; a head plate on said sleeve; a loose collar upon said sleeve; a group oi radially disposed electromagnetic coils and a group of armatures therefor, one of said groups being connected to relatively stationary anchorages on said frame, the other of said groups being connected to said collar; a tube pivotally mounted on said head plate, said tube having a window in one end; a plurality of photoelectric cells within said tube; minors within said tube for renecting to said cells at various times, respectively, light entering said tube through said window at correspondingly various angles; means for automatically moving said tube on its pivot; and a plurality oi electric circuits, each including a source of electricity, one of said cells and one of said coils.

4. The combination with a relatively stationary frame having gimbal rings mounted thereon, of a foot plate mounted on the interior one of said rings; a post erected on said foot plate; a sleeve mounted on said post: a head plate mounted on said sleeve; a loose collar on said sleeve; a group of radially disposed solenoid coils and a group of armatures therefor, one of said groups being connected to relatively stationary anchorages on said frame and the other of said groups being connected to said collar; a tube pivotally mounted on said head plate, said tube having a window in one end; a plurality of photo-electric cells in said tube: mirrors within said tube for reilecting to said cells at various times, respectively, light entering said tube through said window at respectively various angles: a prime mover on said head plate; variable speed transmission mechanismadaptedtobedrivenbysaidprime mover and to automatically move said tube on its pivot: means for governing the variation of speed in said transmission mechanism, said governing means including a flight card adapted to be engaged and moved by means driven by said prime mover, said flight card having guide paths formed therein conforming to predetermined periods of time, and a lever iournalled at one end on a reciprocable member of said transmission mechanism and adapted at the opposite end to extend into one of said guide paths, whereby said lever is actuated by the walls of said guide path as the card is moved by said card driving means; and

a plurality of electric circuits each including a source of electricity, one of said cells and one of said coils.

5. The' combination with a photographic camera shutter and trigger therefor, of a tube having a window in one end; a normally open electric circuit comprising a source of electricity,

a photo-electric cell within said tube, a solenoid coil, a normally closed switch including said trigger, a normally open switch and a circuit closer for said normally open switch an armature foil said coil, said armature being connected to said trigger to operate the same and open said normally closed switch; a spring for retracting said trigger to close said normally closed switch, and a clock-type mechanism for operating said circuit closer to close said normally open switch at predetermined intervals.

8. The combination with a relatively stationary frame and gimbal rings mounted thereon, of a tube; intermediate means for supporting said T119 tube on one of said rings; a group of radially disposed solenoid coils; a group of armatures therefor, one of said groups being connected to said intermediate means and the other of said groups being connected to said frame; a plurality of photo-electric cells within said tube, said cells and coils being included in a plurality of electric circuits, each of which circuits includes a source of electricity, one only of said cells and one only of said coils. 120

'1. 'I'he combination with a relatively stationary frame having gimbal rings mounted thereon and a photographic camera depending from the interior one of said rings, of a tube supported by said interior ring; a. pim-amy of photo-electric cells within said tube, and electromagnetic means including said cells for leveling said rings and camera.

ARTHUR T. KENNEDY. 

